Banjo



(No Model.)

7' J. F. LUSOOMB.

BANJO. No. 888,781. Patented Aug. Z8, 1888.

WITNESSES.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. LUSOOMB, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

BANJO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 388,781, dated August28, 1888.

Application filed June 16, 1886. Renewed February 16, 1888.

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN F. LUSCOMB, of Boston, in the county of Suffolkand State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Banjos, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description.

The improvements in banjos constituting this invention relate to theconstruction of the body for the attachment of the sheep-skin orparchment head and of the neck, all substair tially as hereinafterdescribed.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, thefigure is a central longitudinal section of the body of the banjo and ofthe neck where it joins the head, the neck otherwise being shown in edgeview.

In the drawing, A is the body, Bthe sheepskin or parchment head, and Gthe neck, of the banjo, all, except as hereinafter particularlyexplained, the same as ordinarily and well known, and therefore needingno partieular description herein.

The body A under this invent-ion is composed of inner and outer circularbands, A A of metal, and an intermediate band, A, of wood. The innermetal band, A, exteriorly is made with a peripheral ridge or shoulder,a, between its opposite edges, and on this shoulder rests the woodenband A. The wooden band A surrounds and fits outside, and projectsbeyond the upper edge of the inner metal band, A, and the offset (1 ofthe band A overlaps and fits said edge of the innor metal band.

The parchment head B, as usually stretched, passes over and rests uponthe upper edge of the wooden band A, and about the outside of the woodenband, where it is surrounded by the outer metal band, A, and by itsusual rolled or wired edge, y, it sets under the lower edge of saidouter metal band. The parchment head B, inner and outer metal bands, AA, and intermediate wooden band, A", in the relative positionsdescribed, are secured by hook screw-bolts and nuts, (not shown,) asordinarily and well known in the securing of the parchment head ofbanjos, and therefore needing no particular description herein, exceptto say that so secured the wooden band A is confined thereby to theshoulder or rest a therefor of the inner metal band, A

Serial No. 364,185. (No model.)

In the combination of parts described the parchment head B is stretchedover the edge of a wooden band,.A, secured between outer and innerbands, A A, of metal," and rests upon a shoulder or ridge, a, of theinner metal band, by all of which, while preserving the necessarystiffness of the body and all of the good qualities of a metal body,they being secured by the metal hands, a resonant quality of tone issecured because of the stretch of the parchment head B over and its restupon the edge of a wooden band, A".

The neck 0 of the banjo is made of wood, and under this invention it isstiffened by cross-pieces E, of wood, which are located in crosssaw-cuts at intermediate points in the length of the neck and at theback thereof. The grain of the wooden cross-pieces E is across the grainof the wood, making the neck 0 of the banjo and which is lengthwise ofthe neck. The cross-pieces E are glued in the cross saw-cuts, and thussecurely fastened and made a part of the neck, stiffening it, butwithout otherwise changing or interfering with its action orserviceability in the instrument, which is well known, and, furthermore,acting positively to prevent the warping of the neck.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, 1s-- 1. The body of a banjo composed of inner and outermetal bands, A A, and an intermediate wooden band, A", the inner metalband having an outer peripheral shoulder or ridge, to, and theintermediate wooden band a projection beyond the upper edge of the innerband, and the whole combined with a parchment head stretched across andapplied to the wooden band and metal bands, substantially as described,for the purpose specified.

2. A banjo having a wooden neck, 0, made and provided with a series ofwooden crosspieces, E, secured in cross saw-cuts at the back of theneck, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JOHN F. LUSCOMB.

Witnesses:

ALBERT W. BROWN, FRANCES M. BROWN.

